Viaticum Outside Mass
by an Extraordinary Minister
A priest or a deacon administers viaticum in the manner prescribed by the Rite of Anointing and Pastoral Care of the Sick. When an acolyte or an extraordinary communion, duly appointed, gives viaticum to the sick, the rite here described is followed.
Those who cannot receive communion in the form of bread may receive it in the form of wine. The precious blood must be carried to the sick person in a vessel so secured as to eliminate all danger of spilling. The sacrament should be administered with due regard to the individual concerned, and the rite for giving communion under both kinds provides a choice of methods. If all the precious blood is not consumed, the minister himself must consume it and then wash the vessel as required.
INTRODUCTORY RITE
The minister approaches the sick person and greets him or her and the others present in a friendly manner. The minister may use this greeting:
Peace to this house and to all who live in it.
Any other customary form of greeting from scripture may be used. Then he places the sacrament on the table, and all adore it.
Afterward the minister addresses those present, using the following instruction or one better suited to the sick person’s condition:
My brothers and sisters:
Before our Lord Jesus Christ passed from this world to return to his Father, he gave us the sacrament of his body and blood. This is the promise of our resurrection, the food and drink for our journey as we pass from this life to join him. United in the love of Christ, let us ask God to give strength to our brother (sister).
PENITENTIAL RITE
The minister invites the sick person and those present to recall their sins and to repent of them in these words.
My brothers and sisters,
to prepare ourselves for this celebration,
let us call to mind our sins.
A pause for silent reflection follows.
[A]
All say:
I confess to almighty God,
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have sinned through my own fault
They strike their breast:
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done,
and in what I have failed to do;
and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin,
and all the angels and saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.
The minister concludes:
May almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
The people answer:
Amen.[B]
The minister says:
Lord, we have sinned against you.
The people answer:
Lord, have mercy.Minister:
Lord, show us your mercy and love.
The people answer:
And grant us your salvation.The minister concludes:
May almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
The people answer
: Amen.[C]
The minister, or someone else, makes the following or other invocations:
Minister:
You brought us to salvation by your paschal mystery: Lord have mercy.
The people answer:
Lord, have mercy.Minister:
Your renew us by the wonders of your passion: Christ have mercy.
The people answer:
Christ, have mercy.Minister:
You give us your body to make us one with your Easter sacrifice: Lord have mercy.
The people answer:
Lord, have mercy.The minister concludes:
May almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
The people answer:
Amen.
THE SHORT FORM OF THE READING OF THE WORD
A brief passage from sacred scripture may then be read by one of those present or by the minister.
John 6:54-58
Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood remain in me and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.
John 14:6
Jesus said to him: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me."
John 14:23
Jesus answered and said to him, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them; and we will come to them and make our dwelling with them."
John 15:4
Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.
1 Corinthians 11:26
Every time, then, you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.
1 John 4:16
We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.
God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God, and God in him.
See the Rite of Anointing and Pastoral Care of the Sick(nos. 247ff or 153ff) for a further selection of texts.
PROFESSION OF BAPTISMAL FAITH
It is desirable that the sick person renew his or her baptismal profession of faith before he or she receives viaticum. The minister gives a brief instruction and then asks the following questions:
Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth?
Response:
I do.Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?
Response:
I do.Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?
Response:
I do.PRAYER FOR THE SICK PERSON
If the condition of the sick person permits, a brief litany is recited in these or similar words. The sick person, if he or she is able, and all present respond:
My brothers and sisters, let us pray with one mind and heart to our Lord Jesus Christ:
Response:
Lord, hear our prayer.Lord, you loved us to the end, and you accepted death that we might have life: hear our prayer for our brother (sister). (R)
Lord, you said: "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life": hear our prayer for our brother (sister). (R)
Lord, you invite us to the banquet of your kingdom, where there will be no more pain or mourning, no more sorrow or separation: hear our prayer for our brother (sister). (R)
VIATICUM
The minister introduces the Lord’s prayer in these or similar words:
Now let us pray together to the Father in the words given us by our Lord Jesus Christ.
The minister continues with the people:
Our Father…Then the minister shows the holy eucharist to those present, saying:
This is the Lamb of God
who takes away the sins of the world.
Happy are those who are called to his supper.
The sick person and all who are to receive communion say once:
Lord, I am not worthy to receive you,
but only say the word and I shall be healed.
The minister goes to the sick person and ,showing him or her the sacrament, says:
The body of Christ (or: The blood of Christ).
The sick person answers:
Amen.Immediately, or after giving communion, the minister adds:
May the Lord Jesus Christ protect you and lead you to eternal life.
The sick person answers:
Amen.Others present then receive in the usual manner.
After communion the minister washes the vessel as usual. Then a period of silence may now be observed.
CONCLUDING RITE
The minister says the concluding prayer:
Let us pray.
Father, your Son, Jesus Christ, is our way, our truth, and our life.
Our brother (sister) N. entrusts himself (herself) to you
with full confidence in all your promises.
Refresh him (her) with the body and blood of your Son
and lead him (her) to your kingdom in peace.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
or,
Lord,
you are the source of eternal health
for those who believe in you.
May our brother (sister) N.,
who has been refreshed
with the food and drink from heaven,
safely reach your kingdom of light and life.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
The people answer:
AmenThe minister makes the sign of the cross on himself or herself while saying:
May the almighty and merciful God bless and protect us,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The people answer:
Amen.The minister and others present may then give the sick person the sign of peace.
Texts taken from Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass English translation © 1974 International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. Published in A Ritual for Laypersons © 1993 Liturgical Press. Approved by NCCB
Scripture readings are taken from The New American Bible with Revised New Testament © 1970, 1986 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc. All rights reserved.